Maputo, 6 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican government on 5 June authorised the country’s Road Fund to set up three toll gates along the Beira-Zimbabwe highway, which crosses the central provinces of Sofala and Manica.

This road, which runs for 287 kilometres, used to be in a shockingly poor condition, but has been undergoing thorough rehabilitation since April 2015. The contactor is the Chinese company AFECC (Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company).

It has long been stated government policy that vehicle owners (particularly large trucks) should help pay for the upkeep of roads. Yet to date the only major road that has tolls is the Maputo-South Africa motorway, operated by the South African company TRAC (Trans-Africa Concessions).

Two of the toll gates on the Beira-Zimbabwe road, at Nhamatanda, and at the Vanduzi crossroads, are ready to open. The third will be in Dondo district on a 17 kilometre stretch where the rehabilitation is not yet complete.

The chairperson of the Road Fund, Angelo Macuacua, said he did not know what tariffs will be charged at the toll gates. They will be fixed in a joint diploma from the Ministers of Public Works and of Finance.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) also agreed to spend 31.5 million meticais (about US$530,000) to support reconstruction of the protective wall around Mozambique Island, off the coast of the northern province of Nampula.

Rising sea levels threaten the very existence of Mozambique Island, which was the first colonial capital of Mozambique. Because of its unique mix of African, European and Arab cultures, UNESCO in 1991declared the Island a World Heritage Site.

The government spokesperson, Deputy Education Minister Armindo Ngunga, said the money will come from the National Sustainable Development Fund, run by the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development. The money will be allocated to the Mozambique Island Municipal Council. Ngunga stressed that the sole purpose of the money is the reconstruction of the protective wall.(AIM)

21 September, 2018

Poachers and illegal loggers jailed

The Chigubo district court, in the southern Mozambican province of Gaza, has, over the past three months, sentenced 14 people to jail terms of between 15 days and 12 years for poaching and illegal logging in the Banhine National Park.

19 September, 2018

Government approves water management plan

The Mozambican government on 18 September approved a National Water Resource Management Plan for the next 20 years that will cost an estimated US$28 billion.

18 September, 2018

President Nyusi wants greater visibility for Mozambique Island

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on 17 September urged the residents of Mozambique Island, off the coast of the northern province of Nampula, to join the government initiatives intended to grant greater visibility to the island as a cultural treasure.